Halsted L. Ritter


Halsted Lockwood Ritter was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He was the thirteenth individual to be impeached by the United States House of Representatives and the fourth individual to be convicted and removed from office by the United States Senate.

Education and career

Born on July 14, 1868, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Ritter received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1891, a Bachelor of Laws in 1892, and an Artium Magister degree in 1893, all from DePauw University. He entered private practice in Indianapolis from 1892 to 1895. He continued private practice in Denver, Colorado from 1895 to 1925. He was the Republican nominee for Governor of Colorado in 1912. In 1925, he moved to West Palm Beach, Florida for his wife's health and continued in private practice until 1929.
Ritter wrote a book, Washington as a Business Man, published in 1931 by Sears Publishing of New York.

Federal judicial service

Ritter was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge on January 23, 1929, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida vacated by Judge Rhydon Mays Call. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 15, 1929, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on April 17, 1936, due to his impeachment, conviction and removal from office.

Details of impeachment

On May 29, 1933, United States Representative J. Mark Wilcox of Florida introduced resolution authorizing the House Judiciary Committee to investigate Ritter's conduct to "determine whether in the opinion of the committee he had been guilty of any high crime or misdemeanor." The resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
On March 2, 1936, the United States House of Representatives voted to impeach Ritter by 181 votes to 146 on seven articles of impeachment. The proceedings were only the 13th impeachment case in the 147 years of Congress, although it took place just a month after the impeachment of Harold Louderback. The seven articles were:
  1. Ordering the payment of "exorbitant" legal fees with intent to embezzle. Specifically, the House managers said Ritter engaged in champerty by "corruptly and unlawfully" receiving $4,500 from a former law partner, Albert L. Rankin.
  2. The House charged that Ritter had planned with Rankin and others to put Whitehall into receivership, and had given Rankin an "exorbitant fee" of $75,000, keeping $4,500 of it.
  3. Showing favoritism in bankruptcy cases.
  4. Two charges of practicing law while a judge.
  5. Two charges of tax evasion
  6. Bringing the judiciary into disrepute.
Ritter's chief defense attorney was Frank P. Walsh. Three House managers prosecuted the case, with Sam Hobbs of Alabama leading.
On April 6, 1936, the United States Senate began its trial. Eleven days after the trial began, the Senate voted to acquit him of all but the last article, which he was convicted of 56-28, exactly the two-thirds necessary for conviction under the Constitution, the partisan balance of the United States Senate being approximately 72 Democrats to approximately 22 Republicans in the 74th United States Congress, and Ritter was removed from office on April 17, 1936. A motion to disqualify Ritter from all further federal office was defeated unanimously by the Senate.

Legal challenge to conviction

Ritter challenged the conviction in the federal Court of Claims on the grounds that the Senate could not convict him on a general charge of bringing the judiciary into disrepute if it was not able to convict him of a specific offense. The Court of Claims dismissed the case and held it did not have jurisdiction because the Senate was given the "sole power" to try impeachments under Clause 6, Section 3 of Article I of the United States Constitution.

Later career and death

After his removal from office, Ritter continued to practice law in Miami, Florida. He became ill while flying to the West Coast, and stopped in New Orleans, Louisiana. He subsequently traveled to Laurel, Mississippi to recover while staying with friends. He died on October 15, 1951, in Laurel.

Personal

Ritter's sister was Mary Ritter Beard, the wife of Charles A. Beard; both were noted historians.